Michael W Smith Biography

Christian music performer Michael W. Smith was born 1957 in West Virginia, to an oil refinery worker. Before reaching his teenage years, Michael experienced a profound spiritual reckoning that led to a life-long commitment to Christianity. It was in his local church, with the choir, that he first found his love of music. Michael W. Smith strayed from his devotion temporarily, as a young man, when he struggled with addiction, but an emotional breakdown in 1979 led to his re-commitment to Christ.

In 1982, Michael Smith joined Amy Grant as her keyboardist, and one year later he released a debut album, The Michael W. Smith Project, earning a Grammy nomination for Best Gospel Performance. Michael W. Smith 2 followed in 1984, and The Big Picture came after that in 1986. Smith’s big mainstream breakthrough, however, was Go West Young Man in 1990, featuring the chart topping single “Place in this World.” The single found a home on the Hot 100 at number six, and brought Michael Smith the crossover success he desired.

A series of albums and singles from Michael W. Smith followed for the next two decades, including Change Your World (1992), I’ll Lead You Home (1995), Live the Life (1998), Christmastime (1998), Freedom (2000), Worship (2001), Worship Again (2002), Healing Rain (2004), Stand (2006), It’s a Wonderful Christmas (2007), A New Hallelujah (2008), Wonder (2010), and Glory (2011), featuring hits such as “I Will Be Here for You,” “This is Your Time,” and “There She Stands.” The year 2017 saw Smith release the albums Hymns, Sovereign, and The Spirit of Christmas. The latter earned Michael Smith a Dove Award for Christmas Album of the Year.

Thus far in his career, Michael W. Smith has sold about fifteen million dollars in album sales with sixteen gold albums, nearly thirty hit singles, and five platinum albums. In addition to his work in music, Michael W. Smith owns a teen club that he opened in 1994 in Nashville, Tennessee, featuring a dance floor and facilities to host live performances. Smith is also an active contributor to a variety of charities, including Compassion International and the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation, and was recognized by People Magazine as one of the world’s “Most Beautiful People.”